According to a widely cited Pew Research Center study from 2022, 63% of U.S. men aged 18-29 are single, compared to 34% of women in the same age group.
A global Gallup analysis from May of this year show that 1 in 4 U.S. men aged 15–34 felt lonely "a lot of the day"—a higher rate than in almost 40 other wealthy democracies. This echoes a 2021 survey from American Perspectives in which 20% of single men reported having no close friends.
Referencing the research and "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl, Terry Schilling of the American Principles Project recently told Fox News the lack of relationships is causing anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and low self-esteem.
"When men have a purpose, when they have a meaning, they can bear almost any how," he said. "I think that what's going on with our society today with young men is that they don't have the why. They're not married; they don't have kids, and that's causing depression and anxiety."
Christian apologist Alex McFarland agrees with Schilling that true success and fulfillment are found in faith, marriage, and family.
"It's sad that just one of the most rewarding, enriching aspects of life, which is falling in love, getting married, building a family – millions of young people, especially young men, have been missing out on this," McFarland laments.
He thinks financial concerns and fear of divorce are among the reasons why so many young men are single.
"I think a lot of young people, even young people in the Church, have really not been taught about the value of marriage," the apologist submits.
The good news is more and more young people are thinking about marriage because the "business model" for success begins with the bridegroom, Jesus.
"Every family that is a godly, go-the-distance kind of relationship – that's a small picture of the ultimate marriage of all between Christ and the Church," McFarland summarizes.
He encourages the Body of believers to champion marriage and help younger generations understand the value and the benefit of life's second greatest relationship, which is the spouse and the family.
